Life-saving belt



June 19, 1923.

w. FARADOWSKI LIFE SAVING BELT Filed Nov 2, 1922 Patented June 19, 1923.

WAWZYNIEC PARADOWSKI, OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

LIFE-SAVING BELT.

Application filed November 2, 1922. Serial 1%. 598,485.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WAWZYNIEC PARA- DowsKI, a citizen of Poland, residing at T0- ledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Life-Saving Bolts, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to life-saving belts, commonly known as life preservers, for use at sea or on the water generally in the event of wreck, the invention having for an object the provision of a novel form of safety belt which can be instantaneously applied in position on the body of the user.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

Fig. 1 of the drawings is a perspective view showing my improved life-saving belt.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the belt.

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view showing the buckle construction, this view being taken along the line 33 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the buckle, taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

As here embodied my improved life-saving belt comprises an air bag 10 of suitably elongated form and of a proper length to form a belt. This air bag is contained within a sheathing 11.0f cork which completely encloses the same, this sheathing of cork being in turn enclosed by a covering 12 of cloth. The air bag is thus completely protected by a covering which is itself buoyant. A valve 13 may be provided for inflation of the air bag.

The belt may be provided with a number of projections 16 which may serve as handles.

In Figs. 3 and 4 I have shown in detail the novel buckle which 1 preferably employ and which is arranged for rapid fastening when necessary. This buckle comprises a fiat elongated casing 20 having on one end a slotted extension 21 to receive a strap 22 whereby it is secured to one end of the belt,

thereon,

the opposite end of the casing being adapted to have a hooked member engaged therein.

Projecting inwardly from the side walls of the casin are a number of lugs 24 of ratchet-like formation, the lugs on opposite sides being staggered with respect to one another. The hooked member above referred to comprises a bar 25 provided in one end with a slotted crosspiece 26 to receive a strap 27 whereby it is secured to the other end of the belt. The opposite end of the bar 25 is in the form of a T-head 28 having a conveXed end face to facilitate its riding over the lugs 24 when inserted in the casing 20. Mounted on opposite sides of the bar 25, near the head 28, are bowed springs 29. These springs 29 are so arranged that when one arm of the T-head 28 is in position to register with one of the lugs 24 the spring on the opposite side of the bar 25 will be engaged with an adjacent lug on the opposite side of the casing and will act to throw the bar laterally to hold the said arm of the T-head engaged with the first mentioned lug.

One face of the casing 20 is longitudinally slotted as indicated at 30 and a screw 31 is fixed to the T-head 28 and projects through this slot and has a nut.32 screwed The slot 30 is of sufficient width to allow of the bar 25 swinging to either side to engage one of the lugs, while the nut 32 has a wide base-flange which at all times engages over the sides of the slot.

When the belt has been clasped around the body of the user the bar 25 is inserted such distance as may be necessary into the casing 20, the springs 29 on opposite sides of the I bar alternately compressing as the T-head 28 passes the staggered lugs 24 on the opposite sides of the casing. When the T-head has engaged with one of the lugs 24, after being inserted a suitable distance to properly tighten the belt, the screw may be tiggiltened when desired.

aving thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. In a belt, a buckle comprising an elongated casing, lugs spaced along and projecting inwardly from the opposite sides thereof in staggered relation, a bar having a a T-head adapted to engage any one of said T-head adapted to engage any one of said lugs, and resilient means-for holding said 15 lugs, and resilient means for holding said bar in engagement with any one of said lugs, bar in engagement With any one of said lugs. said means comprising bow springs fixed to 5 2. In a belt, a buckle comprising an elonopposite sides of the bar.

gated casing, lugs spaced, along and pm In; testimony whereof I have afiixed my jeeting inwardly from the opposite sides; signature. I thereof in staggered relation, a bar having, WAWZYNIEC PARADO'WSKI. 

